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Post by Tulips on Oct 11, 2016 22:11:58 GMT
I've just been on the absolute best trip my life. I will be getting a tale together in full. Working on photos right now as my friends are after me to do a presentation for them. i thought I would post a link to some that I have done. More will be posted as I get to them. The link to the photos is below. Africa Photos
Africa Tour Tale |
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Post by tiffany on Oct 13, 2016 11:40:33 GMT
Great pictures Tulips! They look so professional! I can’t wait to read about your trip.
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Post by bet on Oct 13, 2016 15:33:11 GMT
Looking forward to your tale, I have Africa planned for next year.
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daphne
Junior Member
LOVE Travelling!!
Posts: 58 
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Post by daphne on Oct 17, 2016 13:46:50 GMT
I am soooo glad you could come to South Africa, wish more people can experience our continent. Looking forward to read about where you have been, seeing Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, not sure where the beautiful pics of the animals were taken, maybe not in South Africa but rather in Botswana, also see you had nice weather.
Its soooo cheap to come to South Africa, we really have beautiful scenery, people are friendly, such a nice and interesting variety of foods from all the various cultures. And the most wonderful wines!!
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Post by Tulips on Oct 18, 2016 0:45:09 GMT
Great pictures Tulips! They look so professional! I can’t wait to read about your trip. Thanks Tiffany. |
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Post by Tulips on Oct 18, 2016 0:46:34 GMT
Looking forward to your tale, I have Africa planned for next year. I'd love to go again next year. I already have the trip picked out. Just don't think I can make it work as I already have a trip booked for next year. do you have yours booked? |
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Post by Tulips on Oct 18, 2016 0:48:57 GMT
I am soooo glad you could come to South Africa, wish more people can experience our continent. Looking forward to read about where you have been, seeing Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, not sure where the beautiful pics of the animals were taken, maybe not in South Africa but rather in Botswana, also see you had nice weather. Its soooo cheap to come to South Africa, we really have beautiful scenery, people are friendly, such a nice and interesting variety of foods from all the various cultures. And the most wonderful wines!! Hi Daphne, I take it you are from South Africa? I absolutely loved it. I had so many experiences and saw so many things. Some of the animals were taken in Kruger and some on the Chobe River on either the Botswana or Namibian side. Others were taken in Zimbabwe. |
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Post by plane2catch on Oct 18, 2016 1:07:38 GMT
Tulips, thanks for sharing it brought back so many memories from my 2013 trip. I too have some great pics of the Lilac roller. Just love that bird. I had never seen a bird before in my life with so much color. I think I read a few years back that the bird has 17 colors.
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daphne
Junior Member
LOVE Travelling!!
Posts: 58
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Post by daphne on Oct 18, 2016 7:44:02 GMT
@ Tulips yes proudly South African, great choice of destinations, you had the perfect mix to have all the best scenery! The pics are absolutely stunning!!! We are going to Namibia next year, also did Botswana, Zim and Caprivi, what an experience. Normally South Africans would do such trips on their own, not escorted, as its too expensive for us. The travel industry in Africa normally caters for overseas visitors, we cannot afford 5 star in Africa, its also a huge difference between 5 star in Europe and 5 star in Africa.
So you guys are very fortunate to do that, enjoy, its a must, Africa, with safari, etc, so special!!!!!
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Post by Tulips on Oct 18, 2016 10:42:26 GMT
@ Tulips yes proudly South African, great choice of destinations, you had the perfect mix to have all the best scenery! The pics are absolutely stunning!!! We are going to Namibia next year, also did Botswana, Zim and Caprivi, what an experience. Normally South Africans would do such trips on their own, not escorted, as its too expensive for us. The travel industry in Africa normally caters for overseas visitors, we cannot afford 5 star in Africa, its also a huge difference between 5 star in Europe and 5 star in Africa. So you guys are very fortunate to do that, enjoy, its a must, Africa, with safari, etc, so special!!!!! The next trip I'm planning is Kenya /Tanzania. That won't be 5 star though, but not sleeping bag camping either. My travel agent is currently there and she is camping in dorm style tents with sleeping bags. That's a bit too much roughing it for me. LOL! I did an expensive 5 star trip this time because of a special birthday, but I normally do not do such expensive tours. One can do South Africa much cheaper. It's also nice to be able to go on your own. You control the schedule that way, so there are advantages to both. Seeing Namibia more in depth is also on my list. The weather was fabulous, even in Cape Town. Not a drop of rain and hardly any clouds. Thanks for the compliments on my photos. Photography is a hobby of mine. |
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Post by bet on Oct 18, 2016 12:39:33 GMT
Looking forward to your tale, I have Africa planned for next year. I'd love to go again next year. I already have the trip picked out. Just don't think I can make it work as I already have a trip booked for next year. do you have yours booked? Not yet, I'll book in the new year after my up coming trip. Just Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar, still looking for the best itinerary, no 5 star experience for me though, can't afford that unfortunately. |
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Post by Tulips on Oct 18, 2016 15:43:50 GMT
I'd love to go again next year. I already have the trip picked out. Just don't think I can make it work as I already have a trip booked for next year. do you have yours booked? Not yet, I'll book in the new year after my up coming trip. Just Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar, still looking for the best itinerary, no 5 star experience for me though, can't afford that unfortunately. It's hard to find a happy medium between really expensive and something that has beds and air conditioning. The itinerary I found is a Kenya trip with a Tanzania add on. No Zanzibar though. It isn't cheap, but is much much less than the trip I just came from. |
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Post by bet on Oct 18, 2016 23:18:00 GMT
Very true Tulips, and there's so much to see and so little time and money. I don't mind basic and camping as its part of the experience although I'll never go camping back home but I'll also pay more for something more luxurious if it's something I want. I've roughed it in the past but I like my creature comforts as I get older so happy to go basic while I'm still 'young' enough & I'd like to do a fancy lodge stay one day.
What's your Kenya and Tanzania trip with? So far I'm looking at Intrepid and On the Go Tours but need to do more research and pick up some brochures. I'm looking at going around this time next year.
I'm looking forward to reading about your Botswana experience, as that will be my next African destination. Love your photos as well, I need to invest in a good camera before I go.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 19, 2016 0:04:07 GMT
Very true Tulips, and there's so much to see and so little time and money. I don't mind basic and camping as its part of the experience although I'll never go camping back home but I'll also pay more for something more luxurious if it's something I want. I've roughed it in the past but I like my creature comforts as I get older so happy to go basic while I'm still 'young' enough & I'd like to do a fancy lodge stay one day. What's your Kenya and Tanzania trip with? So far I'm looking at Intrepid and On the Go Tours but need to do more research and pick up some brochures. I'm looking at going around this time next year. I'm looking forward to reading about your Botswana experience, as that will be my next African destination. Love your photos as well, I need to invest in a good camera before I go. Bet, my travel agent is on the Zebras and Zanzibar trip with On the Go right now. She won the trip in a photo contest they were running. I was looking at one with Go Ahead. I would do the Tanzania Add on. Can only take so much time off work though and wouldn't be able to do Zanzibar. Tour
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Post by bet on Oct 19, 2016 0:46:22 GMT
The tour looks good and reasonably priced too. I really want to include Masai Mara, Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater. I'm very keen to hear how your Travel Agent found the Zebras and Zanzibar tour and On the Go. I'm considering their East Africa Encompassed tour or forgetting Zanzibar and doing their Best of Kenya & Tanzania tour. The thing I'm not so fussed on with On the Go is the expensive local payment, I'd rather that be just included in the tour price and Zanzibar accommodation is an added extra.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 24, 2016 21:53:48 GMT
Bet, My TA had some comments on Kenya Tanzania. The vehicle used is below. She said "I can tell you right now that 1.5 days in Ngorongoro & Serengeti were plenty for me. The roads are beyond horrible. Personally I would not suggest doing the same route that I did, so I want to look closer at the itineraries to see if you fly in. 3 - 8 hours a day on the roads I was on is not comfortable." Kenya and Tanzania are WAY behind infrastructure wise. It is hot, dirtier than you can ever ever ever imagine. Don't get me wrong it's wonderful, but just so you know, more game drives isn't necessarily better!  |
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Post by bet on Oct 24, 2016 23:56:00 GMT
Thanks Tulips
I've heard the overland safaris are a bit like that, with long drives on bumpy roads, probably not everyone's idea of fun but I'm still interested. Im still shopping around, seeing what I like and what I can afford.
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Post by Tulips on Oct 25, 2016 0:06:51 GMT
No worries. She knows I wouldn't like that type of travel much so she was trying to be realistic for my purposes.
I wasnt trying to discourage you.
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Post by bet on Oct 25, 2016 9:47:56 GMT
Yes, each to their own. I can put up with some discomfort for the overall experience and the thought of relaxing on the beach in Zanzibar at the end will hopefully make up for it. The hard part is wanting to cover too much ground in the time I have, not always the best choice. Africa is so expensive and I definately don't have a spare +$15,000 to cover all I want to see.
I hope your still doing a African trip report, I'm keen to read it.
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Post by Tulips on Nov 2, 2016 16:47:57 GMT
I am working on it now. It's a slower process for me because I sit at a desk all day so am not really keen to sit and write at night.
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Post by bet on Nov 3, 2016 0:36:42 GMT
I know what its like Tulips, my work takes me away from home for long periods at a time so when I get back there's too much that needs doing and I just want to relax. I still haven't completed my journal from my trip almost a year ago but I have almost picked out the tour to Africa I want.
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Post by tiffany on Nov 3, 2016 12:00:49 GMT
I am working on it now. It's a slower process for me because I sit at a desk all day so am not really keen to sit and write at night. I feel the same way Tulips. That’s why it usually takes me a couple of weeks to write my tour tales when I get back. I usually only write about 30 mins a day. |
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Post by bet on Feb 9, 2017 3:47:45 GMT
Hi Tulips, just wondering if are your still planning on going to Kenya and Tanzania this year? Im still wanting to go, just need to work out when I can afford to go, probably sometime between Nov-Jan. Not the best of time to go but I'm sure it will still be fine.
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Post by chech on Feb 9, 2017 11:31:05 GMT
Bet...my tour of K/T with Eldertreks is jn November 2018. November is the only time they go.  |
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Post by bet on Feb 11, 2017 22:54:46 GMT
That's interesting Chech, they reckon the best months for wildlife viewing is the dry season June-October but I think viewing is good year round for most parks. November-February is start of the wet season but it's mainly just passing showers which doesn't bother me. I think it's March-May when it really buckets down. I still need to work out when I can go but I'm still planning for Dec-Jan, I hope I won't be disappointed.
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Post by chech on Feb 12, 2017 0:36:43 GMT
I went to South Africa in October 2013. The reason the viewing is so good that time of year is because there are fewer leaves on the bushes and trees.....so you can see the animals and birds much easier. Our guide said after the rains, it's like driving down a road with two green walls on either side of you. So, if you have to pick a time to go, November would be before the rains.  |
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Post by bet on Feb 12, 2017 3:15:05 GMT
Yeah, ideally I would visit during the dry season but my only option might be January. From what I've read there is a short dry spell then and the rains are just short spells. I would avoid the wet season. I have to sit down and seriously work out what I can afford as I'm also planning my other trip next year to Peru for my 40th, neither of which are cheap.
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Post by chech on Feb 12, 2017 13:32:11 GMT
If I had to choose between Peru and Kenya/Tanzania for the month of January, Kenya/Tanzania would probably be the better choice. Rainy season in Peru can be brutal. That's the time of year that the Machu Picchu train track was washed out. I went in early October....good weather and low crowds.  |
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Post by Tulips on Feb 12, 2017 16:01:45 GMT
Hi Tulips, just wondering if are your still planning on going to Kenya and Tanzania this year? Im still wanting to go, just need to work out when I can afford to go, probably sometime between Nov-Jan. Not the best of time to go but I'm sure it will still be fine. Hi Bet, I've changed my plans slightly. The K&T tour I wanted wasn't guaranteed at the time I was booking so didn't go with it. I think it is now guaranteed though. But, I really wanted to see gorillas and I found a gorilla trekking tour that does Rwanda and Uganda. So I am booked on that and am looking at a week in Kenya before. My TA sent me an all inclusive package on Friday for an "Out of Africa" experience. This means I pay one price and can do as much as I want as everything is included. I'm still picking myself off the floor over the price though. I'm going the last week of August. Im still trying to finish my tour tale for my 2016 tour. I'm going to work on it this afternoon. |
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Post by bet on Feb 12, 2017 16:55:20 GMT
If I had to choose between Peru and Kenya/Tanzania for the month of January, Kenya/Tanzania would probably be the better choice. Rainy season in Peru can be brutal. That's the time of year that the Machu Picchu train track was washed out. I went in early October....good weather and low crowds. No, I'm keeping Peru aside for my actual 40th at the end of August. I'm still deciding whether to do the train or hike the Inca trail or one of the other routes. I've done plenty of hikes but nothing compared to the Inca, it will be hard going. |
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